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| On Sunday, July 15, East Hampton resident and Philanthropist Francis Hayward held a cocktail and dinner party in honor of Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), President Wayne Pacelle. Ms. Hayward an animal advocate and BeKind.org (www.bekind.org) founder hosted the event at the Grey Gardens Estate in the Georgica Pond section of East Hampton. She was accompanied by her rescue shepherd Amigo and his trainer Bill Grimmer. Over 100 animal lovers including Russell Simmons, designers Jackie Rogers, Joanna Mastroianni and Anait Bian, real estate moguls Andrew Borrok and Diane Lieberman, Le Flirt owner Frank Cilione, Jodie & Sal Strazzullo, Plum TV's Alison Chace, Arden Wohl, Elaine Sargent, Sharon Sondes, Liliana Cavendish, Sharon Ashley and Lauren Bush and David Lauren. As usual, Hampton guru publicist R. Couri Hay of Creative Public Relations and Hamptons photographer Patrick McMullan were also in attendance. HSUS President Wayne Pacelle spoke and drew attention to the hard efforts that the Humane Society is providing as a national voice against animal cruelty. Pacelle and Hayward are working together on various nationwide initiatives
Founded in 1954 the HSUS was established to address the surplus breeding of animals, the inhumane treatment of animals, and animal cruelty. It is the largest animal protection organization in the country with a worldwide influential voice. The organization has an operating budget of over $95 million and over nine million members and constituents. Prior to his appointment as the president of HSUS, Mr. Pacelle has worked tirelessly with many animal protection organizations and initiatives dedicated to the protection of animals. He advocates the leveling of felony charges against animal cruelty in particular cock fighting, hog-dog fighting, and dog fighting. Other initiatives include the abusive practices of canned hunts, bear baiting, Internet hunting, pheasant stocking, the exportation of slaughtered horses for human consumption.
The BeKind Organization was founded by Ms. Hayward to help raise awareness and funds for animals in need. The inspiration for this charity came from a dog named Amigo, a former stray "Potcake" from Grand Bahama Island who was rescued, rehabilitated and nurtured by Ms. Hayward. Her first initiative was the launching "BeKind" and "CauseCollar" bracelets which has raised over $200,000. The sale of the bracelets helped Ms. Hayward to organize and fund a rescue mission to bring back animals that were left homeless by the devastating Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. She is partnering with handbag and canine designer CeCe Cord to create the next BeKind line.
As the beautiful evening approached hors d'oeuvres and cocktails were elegantly passed throughout the beautiful estate and gardens, often referred to as the Grey Gardens. A wonderfully presented buffet dinner was followed by deserts where beautiful crimson domes of sorbet graced the desert table. The estate was the basis for the 1976 Grey Gardens documentary film and Tony award winning musical on the lives of former residents Big and Little Edie. The play will have its last curtain call on Broadway, Manhattan on July 30, 2007. Edith "Big Edie" Ewing Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edith "Little Edith" Bouvier Beale, were the aunt and first cousin of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. The estate was designed by Joseph Greenleaf Thrope in 1897. The grey color of the dunes and the reflective hue of the cement gardens walls along with the mist from the sea gave the gardens its color and the name of the estate.
Interior designers Tony Ingrao and Randy Kemper held an afternoon cocktail party in the lavish gardens of their East Hampton estate. The cocktail party featured a one-time-only expanded performance of the Ligeti Essays, presented by Guild Hall, composed by Gyoregy Ligeti and choreographed by Karole Armitage, the performance entailed vocal and instrumental pieces from composer Ligeti's works. The Essays are a suite of concise, jewel-liked movements performed by eight dancers on a set designed by artist David Salle. Guests also bid on artworks by contemporary artists: Scott Grodesky, Jeff Koons, Sophie Matisse, Martin Mull, David Salle and Elyn Zimmerman. After the performance the audience participated in a discussion with Karole Armitage and were enlightened with the artistic process and collaboration of art.
Gyorgy Liget (1923-2006), a Jewish Hungarian composer was born in Romania. His works are well known in the classical music circles. In 1943, he and his family were forced into separate labor camps by the Nazis. Gyorgy and his mother were the sole survivors of his family. He lived in various Southern European countries and eventually became an Austrian citizen. His works became known during the Appraitions (1958) and Lontano (1967) periods of music. He was one of the most influential composers of the 20th century and renowned for penetrating insight into human consciousness. Le Grand Macabre and the Hamburg Concertos were his two most inspiring operas. The Ligeti Essays is a twenty-three movement suite of hypnotic poems based on his spellbinding imagination of music.
Choreographer Karole Armitage is the Artistic Director of her dance company, Armitage Gone based in New York City. In the last twenty-five years she has worked with a wide range of artists including pop star Madonna, filmmakers Merchant and Ivory, painter David Salle, fashion designer Christian Lacroix and composer Gyorgy Ligeti. This dance ensemble strives to revolutionize classical dance with innovative choreographed movements. The pas de deux is epigrammatic and there is a point to be made, life?
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